Linda Loring Nature Foundation

Our eighth hike and the newest one starting with the 2016 season, the Linda Loring Nature Foundation’s publicly accessible property is on the south side of Eel Point Road on the west end of Nantucket’s north shore. It offers easy trails through sandplain grasslands, coastal shrublands and along the North Head of Long Pond in sight of an active osprey nest, hovering Northern harriers and views of Nantucket Sound from the highest points along the trail.
Nantucket Walkabout is very excited about its partnership with the Linda Loring Nature Foundation because hikers will be getting the dual benefit of guide Peter Brace’s natural world knowledge of Nantucket along with, when she’s available, expert property-specific information from Linda Loring’s director of research, Dr. Sarah Bois. A botanist, Sarah is great with children and will share with everyone her extensive plant, insect, bird and mammal knowledge pertaining to this property as well as ongoing research out on the land.

This is about a two-hour hike experience from pick up to drop off. Check the hike calendar to see when we are heading out to the Linda Loring Nature Foundation, but realize that this is a seasonal hike, which is on our hike calendar from spring through early fall. However, the Linda Loring Nature Foundation is open year-round to walkers who want to explore their property from sunrise to sunset. Please leave your dog(s), horse(s) and bike(s) at home, as none of these are allowed on the trails. Also, this is a great hike for student groups and schools.

Logging your steps and counting the miles.
If you’re counting your steps with a fitness/activity tracker, this hike offers around 2,328 steps and is 1.0 miles in length.

Hiking fees.
This hike costs $65 for adults and $30 for children under 13. Nantucket Walkabout offers a 20-percent military discount to active and retired military personnel, and their spouses. When booking your hike, please enter the promo code, MILITARYDISCOUNT when prompted to do so. If you’re booking a hike with non-military hikers, please book for yourself or, yourself and your spouse in a separate booking from your friends and family. Also, please present your military ID card to our guide at the time of pick up. However, please book this hike no later than 5 p.m. the day before to guarantee that Dr. Bois will be available to hike with us. Check the Hike Calendar to see when we are hiking the trail at the Linda Loring Nature Foundation and to book it. To arrange for private or student group hike on this route, call or email us for our rates and to discuss your hiking needs.

Continuing your island discovery!
We encourage you to explore Nantucket on your own! There are more than 15,000 acres open for exploration on land owned by the Nantucket Conservation Foundation, the Nantucket Islands Land Bank, the Linda Loring Nature Foundation, the Massachusetts Audubon Society, The Trustees of Reservations and The ’Sconset Trust. After your hike with Nantucket Walkabout, ask your guide for a package of maps from most of these conservation organizations.